Shoreham shop’s plans thrown out for second time in nine months

People laying flowers in tribute to the people that where killed after a aircraft smashed into cars on busy road on Saturday in front of thousands of horrified spectators at Shoreham airport, Sussex SUS-150827-082233001

Joshua Powling

A SHOREHAM shop’s plans to redevelop its high street property have been refused by planners for a second time in nine months.

Paul Craig, managing director and founder of Showtec, applied to Adur District Council for permission to alter and extend the existing building, which is across the roundabout from Ropetackle Arts Centre.

A retail unit would have been retained on the ground floor with a studio flat at the rear and one-bedroom flats on both the first and second floors.

But this was rejected by the council’s planning committee earlier this month as members felt the extensions, especially to the rear, would adversely affect the nearby properties.

Mr Craig explained that rotting timbers and asbestos made demolition and a rebuild the only option.

He said: “I have tried to appease the planners. However, the planners’ final requests to reduce the build plan made it unacceptable financially.”

He went on to state how his property was ‘one of, if not, the smallest building in the high street’, and as well as providing three residential units his scheme would see an ‘improved architectural presence’ in the town.

The officers’ report stated that the current building has a ‘slightly incongruous appearance’ in the high street as its size and roof form differs from the more substantial terraced properties to the west.

According to Showtec’s website, it specialises in construction and refitting of nightclubs, bars, restaurants and entertainment venues.

Four letters of objection were received from West Street residents, who argued that the new building would have an unreasonable overbearing effect, and would result in loss of light and privacy for their properties.

Councillor Geoff Patmore said: “It seems to me it would be an improvement to have that building there and if the building is in such a very poor state of disrepair surely we are all for encouraging progress not keeping it down?”

But the majority of councillors disagreed. Councillor Emma Evans said she agreed with the officers’ recommendation to refuse the application, and this was backed up by councillor Stephen Chipp, who asked why plans could not be limited to internal alterations. Mr Chipp also thought the new dwellings would be very small.

The previous application, which included another studio flat on the third floor, was refused by the planning committee in December, 2014, on similar grounds.

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